I love my new 16 valver, its great but when I start it up and release the clutch in neutral, a strange noise, like a slight clanking, or rubbing is audible. When you depress the clutch, it goes away... Clearly something with the transmission, but it shifts well, and doesn't make any strange noises with operation. Is my tranny in trouble, or is it something with the fly wheel? Anything to be concerned about? One thing I notice about these cars is they aren't the smoothest beasts on the road, not very forgiving when cold and they can buck a lot if not given enough revs. I think the car may need a tune up, but the noise with the clutch is bothering me. Thanks in advance...

I'd guess the throw-out bearing.

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Sounds like it would be the throughout bearing... But the clutch holds great in all the gears... Would a worn throw out bearing just be a function of age? Thanks for the advice...

Maybe not the bearing itself, per se, but possibly it's attachment to the arm (I can't think of the name at the moment), since you say it doesn't make noise with the clutch depressed, hence, under tension. Does the noise go away if you just slightly depress the clutch?

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

The noise is gone when the clutch is all the way down, away from the flywheel.